Floodland: Lismore's Resilience

0:00This is Corey with Adelaide News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. In February 2022, the town of Lismore and New South Wales faced its worst flood ever with the river hitting 14.4 meters, and trapping people on rooftops. Just a month later, in late March, another big flood came, reaching 11.4 meters. These back-to-back disasters hit hard, and now a new documentary called Floodland tells the story of how locals are rebuilding. The film, directed by Jordan Gusty, tracks several residents over three years to aid visits to the area. It premiered at the Sydney Film Festival this year, and won a $40,000 award for raising awareness about climate change and sustainable futures. Residents like Eli Roth, Harper Dalton, and Carly Ackinson share their struggles and hopes. One decided to leave town after much heartbreak, while another got elected to the local council to push for change. Ackinson, drawing on her indigenous background as a social worker, highlights healing and

1:00community strength. Gusty, and outside of from Melbourne, built deep trust with a small crew, letting people guide the story naturally. He aimed to show political, environmental, and historical sides of life in flood prone Lismore, making viewers feel connected. Floodland also touches on using indigenous knowledge for resilience against disasters, especially after another flood in March 2025, from a tropical cyclone. It's in cinemas now, shining a light on how communities adapt to bigger forces like climate change. Dean and his sponsor by our partner, no earbuds, no headbands, no awkward sleeping positions, Just a pillow that plays your sound, S-O-L-L-I, solelypillow.com.